Goodyear to trial RFID in 2006 NASCAR series

Akron, Ohio -- Goodyear will start the 2006 racing season with a new tyre leasing program for NASCAR's top three series and racing's first deployment of Radio Frequency Identification technology (RFID) in the form of an embedded computer chip in the tyres to help manage the leased inventory.

The new tyre lease program will get its own test run this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Craftsman Truck Series race, according to Greg Stucker, Goodyear's director of race tyre marketing.

"With RFID we will have the ability to ensure that every tyre that comes to the racetrack with us leaves the track with us," Stucker said. "While we will no longer sell tyres to the teams for private testing, we will continue to supply Goodyear tyres for NASCAR-scheduled testing in much the same way we do at race events."

The RFID scanning equipment will quickly read the pertinent information embedded in the sidewall of the tyre. Stucker said that tyre ID is the first piece of data that will be available through the computer chip. "We are exploring several other data options that will further the technological capability of race tyre manufacturing and performance," Stucker added.

Dedicated Goodyear specialists will be on site at all races with a specially equipped transporter to run the programme. "The programme is a major undertaking and investment for us in equipment, personnel and warehousing capabilities," Stucker said. "The effort also reaffirms our continuing commitment to NASCAR and the overall quality of Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck series racing."

Goodyear began exploring RFID technology in 1984 and in 1993 began the first field trial with more than 3000 tyres. The Goodyear Racing Division chose to launch that technology to help manage race tyre inventories for the 2006 NASCAR season.